TY - JOUR
T1 - Obesity-associated infertility - The earliest known description
AU - Ben-Shlomo, Izhar
AU - Grinbaum, Eliezer
AU - Levinger, Uriel
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a leading cause of anovulatory infertility. It was originally described as a syndrome by Stein and Leventhal in 1935. Its frequent association with obesity and the beneficial effects of weight loss are well established. In 1328, the French Rabbi Levi ben Gershom (1288-1344 AD), in a detailed commentary on the Bible, states that '...it is recognized that excess fat and obesity are reasons for infertility'. He explains that Sarah and Rachel allowed Abraham and Jacob respectively to have children with their maids, expecting this to reduce their own appetite, lead to weight loss and consequent conception. Even if one doubts the historical accuracy of this explanation of the ancestors' situation, one cannot doubt that Rabbi Levi ben Gershom is describing a situation familiar to him, to explain the seemingly paradoxical behaviour of the two mothers.
AB - Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a leading cause of anovulatory infertility. It was originally described as a syndrome by Stein and Leventhal in 1935. Its frequent association with obesity and the beneficial effects of weight loss are well established. In 1328, the French Rabbi Levi ben Gershom (1288-1344 AD), in a detailed commentary on the Bible, states that '...it is recognized that excess fat and obesity are reasons for infertility'. He explains that Sarah and Rachel allowed Abraham and Jacob respectively to have children with their maids, expecting this to reduce their own appetite, lead to weight loss and consequent conception. Even if one doubts the historical accuracy of this explanation of the ancestors' situation, one cannot doubt that Rabbi Levi ben Gershom is describing a situation familiar to him, to explain the seemingly paradoxical behaviour of the two mothers.
KW - Anovulatory infertility
KW - Obesity
KW - Polycystic ovary
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48249114769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60182-4
DO - 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60182-4
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 18644215
AN - SCOPUS:48249114769
SN - 1472-6483
VL - 17
SP - 5
EP - 6
JO - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
JF - Reproductive BioMedicine Online
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -